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Locals searching for dog that fled head-on crash on Vail Pass Saturday

Several Vail Valley locals are searching for Izzy, who fled the scene of a head-on crash in which her owner, Chance Patterson, 22, of Joplin, Missouri was injured. The crash was Saturday night on Vail Pass near East Vail.
Special to the Daily |

EAST VAIL — A band of Vail Valley locals are trying to find Izzy, a tan and white pit bull that fled the scene of a head-on vehicle crash Saturday night on Vail Pass.

Eagle County resident Chance Patterson remains hospitalized with serious injuries after another driver crossed over the median and struck him head on as he was headed east on Interstate 70 in East Vail.

Patterson had to be extricated from his vehicle by the Vail Fire Department.



When rescue workers arrived, they found Patterson’s German shepherd, Carlitos, dead by his side. Izzy, or Isabella, his tan and white pit bull, ran off.

The accident happened at 10:59 p.m. Saturday when a black 2003 westbound Chevrolet Suburban driven by Samantha Kellenberger, 24, of Denver, crossed over the median and into the eastbound lane of Interstate 70, said Trooper Jeffrey Chmielewski, public information officer with the Colorado State Patrol.

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What Happened

Patterson, 22, originally from Joplin, Missouri, was eastbound on Interstate 70 in his silver Subaru Outback when Kellenberger collided head-on with him near the East Vail exit. The crash occurred in a construction zone with narrowed lanes and a reduced speed limit. No workers were present, Chmielewski said.

Both drivers were transported by Eagle County Paramedic Services to the Vail Valley Medical Center.

Izzy has been spotted numerous times around the East Vail area near mile marker 183, running near the bike path, said Fran Fields, who is helping with the search.

Anyone with any information about Izzy is asked to call Eagle County Animal Services at 970-328-3647, or Fields at 205-746-1662.

Staff Writer Randy Wyrick can be reached at 970-748-2935 and rwyrick@vaildaily.com.


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